We traveled to Vietnam from August 9th to 13th, 2017, visiting Hanoi and Sapa.

Preparation for a trip to Vietnam

- Prepare your passport, which we have scanned and stored in your email, as a backup in case your passport is lost during your trip. You can travel to Vietnam without a visa and stay for up to 30 days.

- Exchange Vietnamese Dong or US Dollars

- Research the temperature and weather conditions at your destination.

• Adapter plugs are recommended, but some hotels may provide them. However, the electrical outlets in the hotel we visited were the same as those in Thailand.

• Medications

- Download essential travel apps, such as language translation, currency conversion, maps, or others.

Day 1: Journey begins.

We traveled by plane, Nok Air, arriving at Noi Bai Airport in the afternoon around 8:30 AM. The airport offers currency exchange services, SIM card shops, restaurants, and various tour options.

After purchasing a SIM card, a van picked us up and took us to our hotel. We spent our first night in Hanoi at the Luxury Hotel. Upon arrival, we checked in and went out for lunch. Our first meal was a combination of pho and fried rice, which we shared with our travel companions. The portions were generous, and we were unable to finish everything. However, the food was blander compared to Thai cuisine.

After a delicious lunch, our first stop was St. Joseph's Cathedral, located on Nha Chung Street. Situated within a bustling shopping district filled with souvenir shops and restaurants, the cathedral's historical charm makes it a must-see attraction in Hanoi.

We then traveled to our accommodation to check in at the hotel. The weather in Hanoi was hot, similar to Thailand. After checking in, we prepared to continue our journey. Our next destination was the Red Wooden Bridge, also known as the Sun Bridge. This bridge is used to cross to Ngoc Son Temple, which is surrounded by the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as the Sword Lake. The atmosphere here is shady, cool, and it is also a public park for relaxation.

Near the entrance to Wat Noen Yai, but on the other side of the road, there is a monument to Vietnamese heroes.

The remaining time of the day will be spent shopping on 36 streets, or 36 Pho Phuong, and eating, eating, and eating. Most of the goods will be clothes, bags, souvenirs, Vietnamese national costumes, and food throughout the day.

Indulge in a shopping spree followed by a delightful Vietnamese culinary experience, with a diverse selection of dishes to tantalize your taste buds.

For dessert, we had a fruit salad with soy milk and mixed fruits. It wasn't too sweet, but it was delicious. You should try it!

And after shopping, before checking into our accommodation, we walked back to take another picture of the church at night.

After taking photos, we walked back to the accommodation to rest.

Let's take a look at the room. The room itself is decent, but the air conditioning is not cold at all.

After completing the mission, I will sleep and rest. Good night.

Day 2: Visiting the Rice Terraces of Sapa

This sentence describes the second day of a trip, which involves visiting the rice terraces of Sapa.

On the second day in Hanoi, the hotel provided breakfast, but we had to walk to a restaurant in the next alley. The menu included Vietnamese dishes and Western-style breakfast options. We opted for the breakfast.

Check out of the hotel and prepare for the journey to Sapa.

Sapa is a small town in northern Vietnam, known for its terraced rice fields, similar to those found in Pong Pieng, Thailand. However, we have not yet had the opportunity to visit Pong Pieng. During the winter, Sapa experiences snowfall. We chose to visit during the rainy season, when the rice fields are lush and green. After the rainy season, the rice fields turn golden as they are harvested.

It is recommended to visit Sapa in all seasons to experience the distinct changes. The weather in Sapa remains pleasantly cool throughout the year. Our journey took approximately 8 hours by van.

Picturesque landscapes along the way

Viewpoint

We arrived at Ban Ta Fan village first, but Sapa was still ahead.

Exploring the village, we found it to be a place of abundance, with water flowing from the mountains, forming beautiful waterfalls and streams. On the day of our visit, there were not many tourists, but there were local villagers, both adults and children, selling souvenirs.

We finally arrived in Sapa and checked into the SAPA BACKPACKER HOSTEL. Our room was on the 5th floor and there was no elevator, so we had to carry our luggage up the stairs.

After a long journey, we were famished. We had not found any appealing food options at the gas station restaurants along the way. The first restaurant recommended to us was a barbecue place. After settling into our accommodation, our next priority was to eat.

We have arrived. This restaurant is located near our accommodation.

Sapa offers a variety of shopping options, including clothing, almonds, and fruits. Restaurants serve Italian, Vietnamese, and hotpot cuisine. Notably, many Thai tourists visit Sapa, and some vendors even speak fluent Thai. A clothing vendor remarked on the high number of Thai visitors to the area.

We then made our way to the church, a must-see destination.

The area below the church will be used for activities.

We spoke with a young person from the hill tribe who spoke excellent English.

After chatting for a while, we walked back to our room to prepare for bed. The room did not have air conditioning, but there was a fan, and the air was not hot because Sapa has a cool and comfortable climate.

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Day 3: Sapa, the City of Mist

Good morning, Sapa. As usual, I woke up early today, accompanied by the gentle drizzle. I wonder if we will be able to go sightseeing today? After the rain stops, we will walk to the church. In the morning, people often exercise around the church.

A church in the morning

8:00 AM. The van arrived to pick us up. Today, we were heading to the Gatkhat Village. However, due to the light rain, we decided to stop by a coffee shop first. The shop was called GEMVALLEY ART GALLERY.

It is unclear whether the shop exhibits or sells artwork.

This establishment offers both food and beverages, with the main attraction being the stunning view.

From another angle of the shop, this shop also offers homestay accommodation. We think it's worth staying here because the view is stunning.

While waiting for the rain to stop, I decided to visit the nearby village of Kat Kat. It was just a short walk from the coffee shop.

The entrance fee to the village is 50,000 dong per person, which includes an entry ticket and a map. It's time to start our journey. The rain has just stopped, and the path is a bit slippery, so please walk carefully.

Along the path in the village, there are souvenir shops, restaurants, and beverage shops, similar to those found in hill tribe villages in Thailand.

Strolling through the village, I couldn't help but envy the residents. Their proximity to nature is truly remarkable. I hope development will not encroach upon this idyllic setting, lest the natural beauty fade away.

After walking for a while, I saw a waterfall in the distance.

After the waterfall, there is a path that leads to a bridge. At this point, there are motorbike taxis available to take you to the entrance. The cost is 20,000 dong, but you can negotiate the price.

After arriving by motorbike taxi, I returned to the same coffee shop and had lunch.

Our model today

Lunch amidst nature.

Next, we will head to Fansipan, the "Roof of Indochina," the highest mountain in Indochina (Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam).

Upon arrival at FANSIPAN LEGEND, a Guanyin Temple can be seen on the right-hand side before entering the building.

Upon entering the building, you will find a ticket booth.

Adult cable car tickets are available at two prices.

60,000 dong is the price of a cable car ride and a subsequent walk.

70,000 baht covers the cost of a cable car ride and a connecting train journey to the mountain's summit.

We opted for the second option. Once we received our tickets, we had to keep them safe, as they were required for each gate passage.

A breathtaking view from the cable car reveals mountains adorned with lush greenery and cascading waterfalls, showcasing the stunning beauty of nature.

As the altitude increased, the fog became denser, possibly due to the rain earlier in the day.

The station offers a variety of restaurants and beverage shops. As we exited the cable car, we noticed staff members bundled up in winter jackets, even covering their hands. The temperature had dropped significantly. Upon exiting, we were greeted by a wave of cold air. We wondered if the dense fog and drizzle would obstruct our view. It felt like we were in heaven. Fortunately, we had packed warm clothes and rain gear. Determined to make the most of our visit, we disregarded the cold and ventured forth. After all, it's not every day we get to experience such a unique setting. Even with the fog, the scenery was breathtaking.

Walk a little further to board the train above.

We have arrived. The higher we climb, the colder it gets.

Although the view was not the misty landscape we had hoped for, it was still enjoyable in its own way. Tourists from Thailand, China, and Korea, all dressed in similar attire, were having a great time taking photos. The initially chilly air gradually warmed up, allowing us to adjust to the temperature.

After taking photos to our heart's content, we walked back to board the train and descended to the lower level. The experience was simply indescribable.

After returning from Sa Pa, we adjusted the temperature and enjoyed hot chocolate before returning to our accommodation.

Tonight, there is a walking street with products sold by hill tribe people. However, after walking for a while, it started to rain heavily. So we went to the same barbecue restaurant, where the owner remembered us. Because we are not very familiar with the food here, if we stay longer, we will definitely lose weight. I really missed Thai food at that time.

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Day 4: Climbing Mount Homrong

This morning, I woke up early again. Today, I plan to explore the atmosphere of Sapa town, which I haven't had the chance to do since I arrived. I headed to the church, intending to visit a specific place, but I couldn't remember its name. So, I showed him a picture and asked if it was far away. Eventually, I took a motorbike taxi for 20,000 dong.

I have arrived.

The truth is not far away, only 1 kilometer away, but I am not yet familiar with the area. However, on the way back, I walked back steadily.

Upon returning to our accommodation, we prepared for a hike up the mountain steps located in an alley near our lodging. The entrance fee was 70,000 dong.

The ascent involves climbing stairs, with flower gardens and statues along the way. The path is quite crowded, with some tourists even wearing high heels.

We arrived before we even felt tired. When we got there, we were surprised and thought, "Is this it?" The view was just like this.

The distance may vary depending on the specific cave exit, but it is generally not too far.

Upon returning to the building we saw earlier, we noticed people entering. Intrigued, we followed them inside.

The interior features a performance, similar to the Lao wood-knocking tradition. After enjoying the show, prepare for lunch, as we will soon be returning to Hanoi.

After descending the mountain, we continued walking until we came across a restaurant with a breathtaking view of the mountains. We ordered food, ate, and then returned to collect our belongings before traveling back to Hanoi.

Before returning to Hanoi, we stopped by the hill tribe market.

We arrived in Hanoi around 7:00 PM and checked into our hotel. Initially, we planned to go for a walk after showering, as the hotel is located in a shopping district. However, due to our tiring journey and early flight the next morning, we decided to get some sleep instead.

After checking out at 6 am, we traveled back to the airport. Upon passing through immigration, we discovered the requirement to remove our shoes. We then proceeded to the gate for our meal before boarding our flight back to Thailand.

This was our second international trip, as we mostly travel within Thailand. It was a small but enjoyable experience in a country we never thought we'd visit, but ended up falling in love with, especially Sapa with its stunning views throughout the journey. This concludes my review. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share them. See you on our next trip!